Nottingham Forest Under-23s suffered their first defeat of the season as they were beaten 5-2 by an impressive Ipswich Town side.

Aaron Smith scored one and made the other for the Reds in the first half, but Ipswich twice equalised with penalties for carbon copy offences.

Substitute Conor McKendry had a major hand in settling the game for the visitors as he set up two at Alfreton’s Impact Arena in the Professional Development League North game.

Forest named a side without any senior players, although third choice goalkeeper Dimitar Evtimov did play.

There was no Gerry McDonagh for the Reds. He has been in prolific form up front , although it was not clear if he was injured or in the frame for a place in the first team squad that will go to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup.

Ipswich made the brighter start and hit the post within the first five minutes when a cross flew over Evtimov and rebounded off the inside of the post.

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Dimitar Evtimov is beaten from the penalty spot to make it 1-1 (Image: Dan Westwell)

Forest took the lead against the run of play when Virgil Gomis did well to play in Smith, who impressed throughout in the number 10 role. He drilled it across the keeper first time from the edge of the box.

It was 1-1 in the 21st minute when Ipswich were given their first penalty. It was an innocuous incident as a crowd of bodies challenged for the header when the ball was pumped in.

At least two men went down in a heap with referee Scott Simpson adjudging a Reds defender the guilty party. Shane McLoughlin stepped up and sent Evtimov the wrong way.

Forest restored their lead four minutes later when Smith lifted the ball over the defence and Walters ran on to lift the ball over the keeper in turn.

The hosts were close to making it 3-1 ten minutes before the break when Gomis unleashed a fierce drive from the edge of the box.

Michael Crowe looked to have dived past it, but he stuck out a strong hand to force the ball past the post.

The second half was equally entertaining, although not for Forest’s players as Ipswich took charge of the game.

They went ahead 10 minutes after the break when Adam Crookes was penalised in a near carbon copy of the first half incident.

This decision was perhaps a little more clear cut as he had a handful of shirt when the Ipswich player went down.

This time Ben Morris sent Evitimov the wrong way.

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Ipswich were robbed of a third penalty three minutes later when Ben Folami cut inside and two players looked to have tripped him. Nothing was given remarkably and Forest almost took advantage with Gomis racing clear and seeing his shot saved.

It was end-to-end stuff briefly as Anel Ahmedhodzic saw a curling shot turned away by Crowe.

Folami was denied by a good stop from Evtimov and then McKendry set up the goal which put the Tractor Boys ahead for the first time when Morris headed in his cross after 71 minutes.

Gary Brazil responded with his final change, bringing 15-year-old winger Alex Mighten on the left.

Ipswich got their fourth with eight minutes to go as McKendry did brilliantly to cut through the defence and pull the back to give Folami a tap in.

The final goal came with three minutes left. Evtimov had no chance once again as James Blanchfield curled in a right footed finish from 18 yards.